Sunday, October 22, 2006

According to the Florida Times-Union, with the recent news of Giants RB Tiki Barber's wanting to retire at season's end, Jaguars RB Fred Taylor is also thinking about hanging up his cleats. "I love what Tiki is doing," Taylor said on Friday. "He's getting out on top. He's a really intelligent guy and he's got lots of other avenues to pursue once he's done playing." Taylor has begun pondering his current situation with the Jaguars as he has about two years left on an incentive-laden contract. Taylor and agent Drew Rosenhaus approached the Jaguars before training camp to talk about a new contract and once again did so last week during the club's bye week. There has been no word on what took place or what was said during the most recent meeting.....

The Oakland Raiders activated running back Adimchinobe Echemandu from the practice squad on Saturday as insurance if LaMont Jordan or Justin Fargas can't play this week because of injuries. Jordan has been slowed during the week with a sore back, while Fargas dislocated his left shoulder last week against Denver. The two have combined for 478 of the Raiders' 559 rushing yards this season.....

Kansas City QB Trent Green, who was knocked unconscious in the Chiefs' season opener, has been cleared to practice. Green has missed nearly six weeks while recovering from a severe concussion he sustained Sept. 10 against Cincinnati. The veteran quarterback lay motionless on the field at Arrowhead Stadium for 11 minutes after the blow from Bengals defensive end Robert Geathers, before being carted away on a stretcher. "Based on what they've seen this week, they're going to let him start practicing and (doing) pretty much everything we do in practice during the week," Chiefs president and general manager Carl Peterson said Friday. "That does not mean he's been cleared yet to play, but it's a big step. Peterson said backup Damon Huard is expected to start his fifth game on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. He also is likely to start the following week against Seattle. "We're still anticipating Damon to be the starter for the next week (against Seattle)," Peterson said. "But we'll see how fast Trent comes along."

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Colorado expects to be without DB J.J. Billingsley for a third straight game when the Buffalos date at Oklahoma later today. Billingsley has already missed two games after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee......

Miami junior TE Greg Olsen, one of the top 2-3 prospects at the position in the country, is questionable for this weekend’s game with Duke after he was forced to leave last wekend’s fight filled game with Florida International with a concussion. Olsen, a two-year starter who is second on the team with 18 receptions for 185 yards, has not been cleared by team doctors to play......

A day after Washington confirmed that Huskies’ QB Isaiah Stanback will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot, Stanford has confirmed that senior QB Trent Edwards will also miss the rest of the year, also with a broken foot.....

While the suspension of Miami FS Brandon Meriweather, a first-round prospect for the 2007 draft, has gotten most of the attention, there is some other drafted related fallout from last weekend’s ugly brawl involving the Hurricanes and Florida International. FIU has placed a number of players on indefinite suspension including three of their best prospects for the upcoming draft. Veteran TE Samuel Smith, who has 35 receptions already this fall, for example, is a strong second-tier prospect at the position, while WR Chandler Williams is the team’s leading receiver with 43 catches. The players are also expected to perform community service and undergoing training as part of their punishment. However because FIU has byes in two of the next three weeks, the players likely will only serve a one-game suspension when all is said and done. Meanwhile, FIU also kicked DB Chris Smith, the team’s second leading tackler, off the team for his part in the altercation......

North Carolina LB Larry Edwards, a decent second-tier prospect for the 2007 draft, has a broken left collarbone and likely will miss the rest of the season.....

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Oklahoma junior RB Adrian Peterson, a potential top pick at the 2007 draft, broke his collarbone this afternoon and will miss the rest of the season.....

NFL coaching legends Don Shula and Dan Reeves have been named the coaches of the respective teams for this year’s East-West Shrine game. The announcement marks a significant change for the game. In years past, the coaching staffs were comprised of college coaches. Shula and Reeves will be aided by NFL assistant coaches.....

California junior RB Marshawn Lynch, a top 10 prospect for the 2007 draft, suffered a sprained ankle in the Bears’ big win over Oregon on the weekend. X-rays were negative and Lynch is being listed as day-to-day, although he may not really get back to 100% until after the season. In fact, it is believed that Lynch has been hampered by soreness in the same ankle all season. Despite not being totally healthy, Lynch had still run for at least 100 yards in four consecutive games and is averaging 7 yards per carry this season.....

If nothing else, this year’s inaugural go of the Texas versus the Nation post-season college all-star game isn’t going to be dull. Game organizers have named irascible former NFL coach Buddy Ryan as coach of the Nation squad, while the Texas team will be coached by UTEP head coach Mike Price. The new Texas versus the Nation game is scheduled for El Paso on February 2, 2007. The game will kick off at 9 PM ET that evening and will be telecast on CSTV

Friday, October 06, 2006

Florida DT Marcus Thomas, a solid first-day prospect for the 2007 draft if he passes NFL teams’ pre-draft character checks this winter, has been reinstated to the team and will play in the Gators big game with LSU tomorrow. Thomas missed the past two games after he was suspended indefinitely for a second violation of the school’s substance-abuse policy. Thomas was suspended after reportedly failing a second test for marijuana however he has appealed claiming the second test actually registered the marijuana use from the first test.....

Clemson Chansi Stuckey, a second-tier prospect for the 2007 draft, will miss up to five weeks after breaking his foot in practice. Stuckey will have surgery later today. The 6-0, 185-pound Stuckey has 116 career receptions for the Tigers including 25 this fall for 331 yards and three touchdowns.....

Mississippi State DT Deljuan Robinson will miss up to three games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn MCL in his knee. The 6-3, 295-pound Robinson has 8 tackles for loss so far this fall.....

Michigan State QB Drew Stanton, one of the top 2-3 QB prospects for the 2007 draft, could be limited when the slumnping Spartans play cross state rival Michigan on Saturday. Stanton bruised his sternum late in last weekend’s dismal home loss to Illinois.....

Pittsburgh OG John Simonitis, a second tier prospect for the 2007 draft, has been lost for the season because of a fractured right ankle.....

Southern California WR Chris McFoy, a sleeper type prospect for the 2007 draft, will miss 4-6 weeks after he fractured two bones in his shoulder area in last Saturday’s win against Washington State.....

Florida RB DeShawn Wynn is listed as questionable for Saturday’s big game at LSU with a twisted right knee.....